USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 28
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1 Dr. John Pott, afterwards deputy-governor in 1629.
2 This should be William Clayborne, the surveyor.
3 This was the first settlement at Newport News. The name either is derived from that of Captain Newport, or means New Port Newce, if, as is sometimes said, Daniel Gookin came from Newcestown in Ireland. His son Daniel migrated later to Massachusetts, where he became a prominent public man, and died a major-general in 1687.
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that is planted doth prosper so well as in no place better. For the mortality of the people accuse not the place, for of the old Planters and the families scarce one of twenty miscarries, onely the want of necessaries are the occasions of those diseases.1 And so wee will conclude this yeere with the shipping and numbers sent.
Out of the COUNCELS Letters from Virginia.
This yeere was sent one and twenty saile of Ships that imployed more than 400. sailers and 1300. men, women and children of divers faculties, with fourescore cattle; the Tiger fell in the Turkes hands, yet safely escaped: and by the returne of their letters from thence, the company is assured there can bee no fitter places of Mines, Wood and Water for Iron than there; and the French men 2 affirme no Country is more proper for Vines, Olives, Silke, Rice and Salt, &c. of which the next yeere they promise a good quantity.
Gifts.
The Gentlemen and Mariners that came in the Royall James from the East-Indies, gave towards the building of a free Schoole 70 pound, eight shillings, and six pence; 3 and an unknowne person to further it, sent thirtie pounds; and another in like manner five and twentie pounds; another re- fusing to be made knowne, gave fortie shillings yeerely for a Sermon before the Virginia companie : also another that would not be knowne, sent for the College at Henrico, many excellent good religious bookes, worth ten pound, and a most curious
1 Climatic influences were, nevertheless, the chief trouble, and the writer wisely limits the health of the place to the old planters, who by sickness had become "seasoned " to the malaria of the river.
2 These men had been sent by the Virginia Company to instruct the set- tlers how to raise grapes and make wine. They were natives of Languedoc, and were seated at Buckroe, near Point Comfort.
3 The Reverend Patrick Copeland or Copland had incited these East India voyagers to make this subscription, for the history of which see Records of the Virginia Company, I. 532.
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Map of al that coast of America. Master Thomas Bargave 1 their Preacher there deceased, gave a Librarie valued at one hundred Markes: and the Inhabitants hath made a contribu- tion of one thousand and five hundred pounds, to build a house for the entertaining of strangers. This yeere also there was much suing for Patents for Plantations, who promised to transport such great multitudes of people: there was much disputing concerning those divisions, as though the whole land had beene too little for them: six and twentie obtained their desires, but as yet not past six hath sent thither a man; notwithstanding many of them would have more, and are not well contented; whom I would intreat, and all other wranglers, to peruse this saying of honest Claudius.
See'st not the world of Natures worke, the fairest well, I wot, How it, it selfe together ties, as in a true-loves knot.
Nor seest how th'Elements ayre combin'd, maintaine one constant plea,
How midst of heaven contents the Sunne, and shore containes the sea ;
And how the aire both compasseth, and carrieth still earths frame, Yet neither pressing burdens it, nor parting leaves the same.
The observations of Master John Pory Secretarie of Virginia, in his travels.
Having but ten men meanly provided, to plant the Secre- taries land on the Easterne shore neere Acomack 2 (Captaine Wilcocks plantation), the better to secure and assist each other, Sir George Yearley intending to visit Smiths Iles,3
1 The Reverend Thomas Bargrave was a brother of Captain George Bargrave, came out to Virginia in 1619, and died in 1621.
2 The reference here is to the peninsula east of Chesapeake Bay, which the Indians called Accomac, now occupied by two counties of Virginia, Northampton and Accomac. Here in the early part of 1621 Sir George Yeardley laid out some of the company's land, and in the fall of 1621 John Pory completed the work by settling ten men thereon as tenants.
3 Near Cape Charles. Here, in 1614, Sir Thomas Dale established a party of men under Lieutenant Craddock for the purpose of making salt out of sea water, and called the settlement Dale's Gift. It is probable, however, that the settlement was not continued.
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fell so sicke that he could not, so that he sent me with Estinien Moll a French-man, to finde a convenient place to make salt in.
Not long after Namenacus the King of Pawtuxunt, came to us to seeke for Thomas Salvage 1 our Interpreter. Thus insinuating himselfe, he led us into a thicket, where all sitting downe, he shewed us his naked brest; asking if we saw any deformitie upon it, we told him, No; No more, said hee, is the inside, but as sincere and pure; therefore come freely to my Countrie and welcome: which wee promised wee would within six weekes after. Having taken a muster of the com- panies tenants; I went to Smiths Iles, where was our Salt- house: not farre off wee found a more convenient place, and so returned to James towne.
Being furnished the second time, wee arrived at Aquo- hanock, and conferred with Kiptopeke their King. Passing Russels Ile and Onaucoke,2 we arrived at Pawtuxunt: the discription of those places, you may reade in Captaine Smiths discoveries, therefore needlesse to bee writ againe. But here arriving at Attoughcomoco the habitation of Namenacus, and Wamanato his brother, long wee staied not ere they came aboord us with a brasse Kettle, as bright without as within, ful of boyled Oisters. Strict order was given none should offend us, so that the next day I went with the two Kings a hunting, to discover what I could in their confines. Wamanato brought mee first to his house, where hee shewed mee his wife and children, and many Corne-fields; and being two miles within the woods a hunting, as the younger conducted me forth, so the elder brought me home, and used me as kindly as he could, after their manner. The next day, he presented me twelve Bever skinnes and a Canow, which I requited with such things to his content, that he promised to keepe them whilst hee lived, and burie them with him being dead. Hee much wondered at our Bible, but much more to heare it was the Law of our God, and the first Chapter of Genesis expounded
1 Dr. Brown is inclined to think that Ensign Thomas Savage was the first permanent settler on the Eastern Shore. His son was John Savage, and the family is still represented in Virginia. 2 Onancock.
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of Adam and Eve, and simple mariage; to which he replyed, hee was like Adam in one thing, for he never had but one wife at once : but he, as all the rest, seemed more willing of other discourses they better understood. The next day, the two Kings with their people, came aboord us, but brought nothing according to promise; so that Ensigne Salvage challenged Namenacus the breach of three promises, viz. not in giving him a Boy, nor Corne though they had plentie, nor Moutapass (a fugitive called Robert Marcum, that had lived 5. yeeres amongst those northerly nations): which hee cunningly answered by excuses. Womanato it seemes, was guiltlesse of this falshood, because hee staied alone when the rest were gone. I asked him if he desired to bee great and rich; he answered, They were things all men aspired unto: which I told him he should be, if he would follow my counsell, so he gave me two tokens, which being returned by a messenger, should suffice to make him confident the messenger could not abuse us.
Some things being stolne from us, he tooke such order that they were presently restored, then we interchanged presents : in all things hee much admired our discretions, and gave us a guide that hee called brother, to conduct us up the River : by the way we met with divers that stil tould us of Marcum: and though it was in October, we found the Countrie very hot, and their Corne gathered before ours at James towne. The next day, we went to Paccamaganant, and they directed us to Assacomoco, where their King Cassatowap had an old quarrell with Ensigne Salvage, but now seeming reconciled, went with us, with another Werowance, towards Mattapanient, where they perswaded us ashore upon the point of a thicket; but supposing it some trecherie, we returned to our boat: farre we had not gone from the shore, but a multitude of Salvages sallied out of the wood, with all the ill words and signes of hostilitie they could. When wee saw plainly their bad intent, wee set the two Werowances at libertie, that all this while had line 1 in the Cabbin, as not taking any notice of their villanie,
2 A 1 Lain.
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because we would convert them by courtesie. Leaving them as we found them, very civill and subtill, wee returned the same way wee came to the laughing Kings on the Easterne shore, who told us plainly, Namanicus would also have allured him into his Countrie, under colour of trade, to cut his throat. Hee told us also Opechancanough had imployed Onianimo to kill Sal- vage; because he brought the trade from him to the Easterne shore, and some disgrace hee had done his sonne and some thirteene of his people before one hundred of those Easterlings,1 in rescuing Thomas Graves whom they would have slaine: where hee and three more did challenge the thirteene Pamaun- kes to fight, but they durst not; so that all those Easterlings so derided them, that they came there no more.
This Thomas Salvage, it is sixteene yeeres since he went to Virginia, being a boy, hee was left with Powhatan for Namon- tacke, to learne the language: and as this Author 2 affirmeth, with much honestie and good successe hath served the publike without any publike recompence, yet had an arrow shot through his body in their service. This laughing King at Accomack, tels us the land is not two daies journy over in the broadest place, but in some places a man may goe in halfe a day, be- twixt the Bay and the maine Ocean, where inhabit many peo- ple ; so that by the narrownesse of the Land there is not many Deere, but most abundance of Fish and Fowle. Kiptope 3 his brother rules as his Lieutenant, who seeing his younger brother more affected by the people than himselfe, freely resigned him the moitie of his Countrie, applying himselfe onely to husbandry and hunting, yet nothing neglected in his degree; nor is hee carelesse of any thing concernes the state, but as a vigilant and faithfull Counceller, as hee is an affec- tionated Brother, bearing the greater burden in government, though the lesser honour: where cleane contrary they on the Westerne shore,4 the younger beares the charge, and the elder the dignitie. Those are the best husbands 5 of any Salvages
1 Indians of the Eastern Shore. 2 John Pory. 3 Kiptopeke. 4 I.e., the main part of Virginia, on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay. 5 Providers.
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we know: for they provide Corne to serve them all the yeare, yet spare; and the other not for halfe the yeare, yet want. They are the most civill and tractable people we have met with; and by little sticks will keepe as just an account of their promises, as by a tally. In their mariages they observe a large distance, as well in affinitie as consanguinitie; nor doe they use that devilish custome in making black Boyes.1 There may be on this shore about two thousand people : they on the West would invade them, but that they want Boats to crosse the Bay; and so would divers other Nations, were they not protected by us. A few of the Westerly Runnagados had conspired against the laughing King : but fearing their treason was discovered, fled to Smiths Iles, where they made a mas- sacre of Deere and Hogges; and thence to Rickahake, betwixt Cissapeack 2 and Nansamund, where they now are seated under the command of Itoyatin.3 And so I returned to James Towne, where I found the government rendred to Sir Francis Wyat. In February 4 also he travelled to the South River Chawonock, some sixtie miles over land; which he found to be a very fruitfull and pleasant Country, yeelding two harvests in a yeare, and found much of the Silke grasse formerly spoken of, was kindly used by the people, and so returned.
Captaine Each sent to build a Fort to secure the Countrey.
It was no small content to all the Adventurers to heare of the safe arivall of all those ships and companies, which was thought sufficient to have made a Plantation of themselves : and againe to second them, was sent Captaine Each in the Abigale, a ship of three or foure hundred tunnes, who hath undertaken to make a Block-house amongst the Oyster banks, that shall secure the River. The furnishing him with Instru- ments, cost three hundred pounds; but the whole charge and
1 The reference here is to the religious exercises dedicating boys to the priesthood. Strachey, Historie of Travaile into Virginia, p. 95.
2 Chesapeake. 3 Otherwise called Itopatin, or Opitchapan.
4 The margin has the note, "1622. The Earle of Southampton Treasurer, and Nicholas Farrar Deputy."
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the ships returne, will be neere two thousand pounds. In her went Captaine Barwicke with five and twentie men for the building ships and Boats, and not other waies to be imploied : and also a selected number to build the East Indie Schoole,1 but as yet from Virginia little returnes but private mens Tobacco, and faire promises of plentie of Iron, Silke, Wine, and many other good and rich commodities, besides the speedy conversion of the Salvages, that at first were much discouraged from living amongst them, when they were debarred the use of their peeces; therefore it was disputed as a matter of State, whether such as would live amongst them should use them or not, as a bait to allure them; or at least such as should bee called to the knowledge of Christ. But because it was a great trouble for all causes to be brought to James Towne for a triall, Courts were appointed in convenient places to releeve them : but as they can make no Lawes in Virginia till they be ratified here; so they thinke it but reason, none should bee inacted here without their consents, because they onely feele them, and must live under them. Still they complaine for want of Corne, but what must be had by Trade, and how unwilling any Officer when he leaveth his place, is to make good his number of men to his Successor, but many of them during their times to help themselves, undoes the Company: for the servants you allow them, or such as they hire, they plant on their private Lands, not upon that belongeth to their office, which crop alwaies exceeds yours, besides those which are your tenants to halfes, are forced to row them up and downe,2 whereby both you and they lose more then halfe. Nor are those officers the ablest or best deserving, but make their
1 This school was to be built at Charles City (City Point) and to have dependence on the college at Henrico. The first contribution came from some of the East India Company returning from India in the Royal James. See p. 350, note 3. Hence the name "East India School." A rector (Rev. Patrick Copland) for the college, a master and usher for the school, tenants for the college lands, and a manager for the same were selected and all but the rector sent to Virginia; but the Indian massacre of 1622 destroyed them all, and effectually crushed out the college and the school.
2 Up and down the river, from one plantation to another.
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experience upon the companies cost, and your land lies un- manured to any purpose, and will yeeld as little profit to your next new officers.
The massacre upon the two and twentieth of March.1
The Prologue to this Tragedy,2 is supposed was occasioned by Nemattanow, otherwise called Jack of the Feather, because hee commonly was most strangely adorned with them; and for his courage and policy, was accounted amongst the Salvages their chiefe Captaine, and immortall from any hurt could bee done him by the English. This Captaine comming to one Morgans house, knowing he had many commodities that hee desired, perswaded Morgan to goe with him to Pamauke to trucke, but the Salvage murdered him by the way; and after two or three daies returned againe to Morgans house, where he found two youths his Servants, who asked for their Master : Jack replied directly he was dead; the Boyes suspecting as it was, by seeing him weare his Cap, would have had him to Master Thorp : 3 But Jack so moved their patience, they shot him; so he fell to the ground, put 4 him in a Boat to have him before the Governor, then seven or eight miles from them. But by the way Jack finding the pangs of death upon him, desired of the Boyes two things : the one was, that they would not make it knowne hee was slaine with a bullet; the other, to bury him amongst the English. At the losse of this Sal- vage, Opechankanough much grieved and repined, with great threats of revenge; but the English returned him such ter- rible answers, that he cunningly dissembled his intent, with the greatest signes he could of love and peace: yet within fourteene daies after he acted what followeth.
Sir Francis Wyat at his arrivall 5 was advertised,6 he found the Countrey setled in such a firme peace, as most men there
1 Good Friday.
2 Marginal note in the original, "The death of Nematanow, writ by Master 3 George Thorpe, manager of the college lands. Wimp."
And they put him, etc. 5 October, 1621. 6 Informed.
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thought sure and unviolable, not onely in regard of their promises, but of a necessitie. The poore weake Salvages being every way bettered by us, and safely sheltred and defended, whereby wee might freely follow our businesse : and such was the conceit of this conceited peace, as that there was seldome or never a sword, and seldomer a peece, except for a Deere or Fowle; by which assurances the most plantations were placed straglingly and scatteringly, as a choice veine of rich ground invited them, and further from neighbours the better. Their houses generally open to the Salvages, who were alwaies friendly fed at their tables, and lodged in their bed-chambers ; which made the way plaine to effect their intents, and the conversion of the Salvages as they supposed.
Having occasion to send to Opechankanough about the middle of March, hee used the Messenger well, and told him he held the peace so firme, the sky should fall or 1 he dissolved it; yet such was the treachery of those people, when they had contrived our destruction, even but two daies before the massacre, they guided our men with much kindnesse thorow the woods, and one Browne that lived among them to learne the language, they sent home to his Master. Yea, they bor- rowed our Boats to transport themselves over the River, to consult on the devillish murder that insued, and of our utter extirpation, which God of his mercy (by the meanes of one of themselves converted to Christianitie) prevented; and as well on the Friday morning that fatall day, being the two and twentieth of March, as also in the evening before, as at other times they came unarmed into our houses, with Deere, Turkies, Fish, Fruits, and other provisions to sell us: yea in some places sat downe at breakfast with our people, whom immediatly with their owne tooles they slew most barbar- ously, not sparing either age or sex, man woman or childe; so sudden in their execution, that few or none discerned the weapon or blow that brought them to destruction. In which manner also they slew many of our people at severall works in the fields, well knowing in what places and quarters
1 Before.
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each of our men were, in regard of their familiaritie with us, for the effecting that great master-peece of worke their con- version : and by this meanes fell that fatall morning under the bloudy and barbarous hands of that perfidious and inhumane people, three hundred forty seven men, women and children; mostly by their owne weapons; and not being content with their lives, they fell againe upon the dead bodies, making as well as they could a fresh murder, defacing, dragging, and mangling their dead carkases into many peeces, and carrying some parts away in derision, with base and brutish triumph.
Neither yet did these beasts spare those amongst the rest well knowne unto them, from whom they had daily received many benefits; but spightfully also massacred them without any remorse or pitie: being in this more fell then Lions and Dragons, as Histories record, which have preserved their Benefactors; such is the force of good deeds, though done to cruell beasts, to take humanitie upon them, but these mis- creants put on a more unnaturall brutishnesse then beasts, as by these instances may appeare.
That vorthy religious Gentleman M. George Thorp, Deputie to the College lands, sometimes one of his Majesties Pensioners, and in command one of the principall in Virginia ; did so truly effect 1 ther conversion, that whosoever under him did them the least cispleasure, were punished severely. He thought nothing too deare for them, he never denied them any thing; in so much that when they complained that our Mastives did feare 2 them he to content them in all things, caused some of them to be killed in their presence, to the great displeasure of the owners, and would have had all the rest guelt to make them the mlder, might he have had his will. The King 3 dwelling but in a Cottage, he built him a faire house after the English fashion: in which he tooke such pleasure, especially in the locke and key, which he so admired, as locking and un- locking his dore a hundred times a day, he thought no device in the world comparable to it.
1 Affect. 2 Frighten.
3 Opechancanough.
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Thus insinuating himselfe into this Kings favour for his religious purpose, he conferred oft with him about Religion, as many other in this former Discourse had done: and this Pagan confessed to him (as he did to them) our God was better then theirs, and seemed to be much pleased with that Dis- course, and of his company, and to requite all those courtesies ; yet this viperous brood did, as the sequell shewed, not onely murder him, but with such spight and scorne abused his dead corps as is unfitting to be heard with civill eares. One thing I cannot omit, that when this good Gentleman upon his fatall houre, was warned by his man, who perceiving some treachery intended by those hell-hounds, to looke to himselfe, and withall ran away for feare he should be apprehended, and so saved his owne life; yet his Master out of his good meaning was so void of suspition and full of confidence, they had slaine him or 1 he could or would beleeve they would hurt him. Captaine Nathaniel Powell 2 one of the first Planters, a valiant Souldier, and not any in the Countrey better knowne amongst them; yet such was the error of an overconceited power and pros- peritie, and their simplicities, they not onely slew him and his family, but butcher-like hagled their bodies, and cut off his head, to expresse their uttermost height of cruelty, Another of the old company of Captaine Smith, called Nathaniel Causie, being cruelly wounded, and the Salvages about him, with an axe did cleave one of their heads, whereby the rest fled and he escaped : for they hurt not any that did either fight or stand upon their guard. In one place, where there was but two men that had warning of it, [they] defended the house against sixty or more that assaulted it. M. Baldwin at Warraskoyack,3 his
1 Before.
2 He came with the first settlers in 1607 to Virginia, Ind for ten days acted as governor after the departure of Captain Samuel Agall for England at Easter in 1619. He married Joyce, daughter of Willian Tracy, one of the proprietors of Berkeley Hundred, who was massacred with her. His place of 600 acres called Powell Brook lay on the creek which bears his name not far from the mouth of the Appomattox River.
3 The plantations in Isle of Wight County on the south side of the James from Lawne's Creek to Day's Point were called Warrasc yack.
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wife being so wounded, she lay for dead; yet by his oft dis- charging of his peece, saved her, his house, himselfe, and divers others. At the same time they came to one Master Harisons house, neere halfe a mile from Baldwines, where was Master Thomas Hamer 1 with six men, and eighteene or nineteene women and children. Here the Salvages with many presents and faire perswasions, fained they came for Capt. Ralfe Hamer to go to their King, then hunting in the woods : presently they sent to him, but he not comming as they expected, set fire of a Tobacco-house, and then came to tell them in the dwelling house of it to quench it; all the men ran towards it but Master Hamer, not suspecting any thing, whom the Salvages pursued, shot them full of arrowes, then beat out their braines. Hamer having finished a letter hee was a writing, followed after to see what was the matter, but quickly they shot an arrow in his back, which caused him returne and barricado up the doores, whereupon the Salvages set fire on the house. Harisons Boy finding his Masters peece loaded, discharged it at randome, at which bare report the Salvages all fled, Baldwin still discharging his peece, and Mr. Hamer with two and twentie persons thereby got to his house, leaving their owne burning. In like manner, they had fired Lieutenant Basse 2 his house, with all the rest there about, slaine the people, and so left that Plantation.
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